Choosing a new Samsung phone can be tricky, especially when you're looking for something high-end but not quite a full-blown flagship. This article breaks down the differences between two strong contenders: the Galaxy A56, the star of Samsung's A series, and the Galaxy S24 FE, last year's budget flagship. We'll compare their features to help you decide which one gives you more for your money.
Design and Build
When it comes to how they look and feel, these two phones are pretty similar. Both the Galaxy A56 and the S24 FE have a flat back made of Gorilla Glass Victus Plus and an aluminum frame. They are also the same size. However, the A56 is a bit lighter.
For protection against water and dust, the S24 FE has a slight edge with an IP68 rating, while the A56 has an IP67 rating. This means the S24 FE can handle slightly deeper water submersion, though both offer good protection.
Display
The screens on these two phones are almost identical. Both feature a 6.7-inch OLED panel with a 1080p resolution, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and Gorilla Glass Victus Plus protection. The main difference is that the S24 FE's screen gets a little brighter, reaching about 1370 nits compared to the A56's 1000 nits. Still, both screens are sharp, look good, and support HDR10+ video playback. They also handle refresh rates similarly, automatically adjusting from 120 Hz down to 60 Hz to save power.
Audio
Both phones come with stereo speakers. The S24 FE's setup is a bit louder than the A56's, and it offers a bit more in the mid-range for sound quality. Overall, both provide good audio.
Security and Storage
To unlock either phone, you can use an optical under-display fingerprint reader. Both phones are available with 128 GB or 256 GB of storage. The S24 FE also has a 512 GB option, which the A56 does not.
Software and Performance
Both the Galaxy A56 and the S24 FE run Samsung's One UI 7. This means they offer a very similar software experience. The S24 FE does have an advantage with Samsung's DeX connectivity, which isn't supported on the A56. Both phones also include some Samsung-exclusive AI features in addition to those from Google Gemini.
In terms of software updates, both phones are on par. The S24 FE gets 7 years of updates, while the A56 gets 6 years, but since the A56 is a year newer, their support timelines are effectively the same.
Chipset and Benchmarks
Here's where you'll find one of the biggest differences. The Galaxy A56 uses a mid-range Exynos 1580 chipset. The S24 FE, on the other hand, comes with an Exynos 2400E, which was considered a top-tier flagship processor just a couple of years ago.
This difference in chipsets leads to a significant performance gap:
- The Galaxy S24 FE scores roughly double the CPU scores of the A56 in benchmarks.
- It also achieves three times the graphics scores.
If you need high performance for demanding tasks or gaming, the S24 FE is the clear choice. However, the A56 still has enough power for everyday use.
Thermals
Interestingly, the A56 is much better at managing heat than the S24 FE. Its more modest chipset doesn't get as hot during prolonged use.
Battery Life and Charging
Both phones have comparable overall battery life in active use. However, they excel in different areas:
- The A56 is better for web and social media browsing.
- The S24 FE has better gaming run times.
The A56 supports faster 45-watt charging compared to the S24 FE's 25 watts. Despite this, the actual charging speed difference is small. The A56 charges about 10% more in half an hour, but a full charge takes about 70 minutes on both phones. The S24 FE does offer wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features not found on the A56.
Cameras
Let's talk about the cameras. The Galaxy A56 has three rear cameras: a main camera, an ultrawide, and a dedicated macro shooter. The S24 FE has a similar main and ultrawide camera, but instead of a macro, it features a 3x telephoto zoom lens.
Main Camera
Both phones take good photos with their main cameras, offering wide dynamic range and pleasing colors. They are equally sharp. However, for 2x digital zoom, the S24 FE has an advantage. In low light, the A56's main camera performs better, producing cleaner images with wider dynamic range, while the S24 FE's shots can be grainier with darker shadows.
Telephoto and Ultrawide
The S24 FE's dedicated 3x zoom camera takes good, detailed images. While its night performance isn't spectacular, it's still better than having no zoom at all. The ultrawide cameras on both phones are roughly on par, with minor differences in how they process details. The A56's sharpening is a bit more pronounced, while the S24 FE's is more natural. In low light, both ultrawides offer similar detail levels.
Selfies and Video
The A56 has a 12-megapixel selfie camera, while the S24 FE has a 10-megapixel one. Both have fixed focus. We found the A56's selfies to be slightly better, with more sharpness and better detail. For video, the S24 FE can record up to 8K with its main camera, while the A56 maxes out at 4K. In 4K footage from the main cameras, both do well, though the A56 applies a bit more sharpening. The S24 FE's 3x zoom video is a nice option to have. In low light, the A56's video is brighter and a bit sharper, but the S24 FE's results are still good.
- Galaxy A56 Pros: Lighter, better selfies, better low-light photos, dedicated macro camera, generally less expensive.
- Galaxy S24 FE Pros: Much more powerful chipset, dedicated telephoto zoom, wireless charging, IP68 rating, slightly brighter screen, louder speakers, DeX connectivity.
Conclusion
Both the Galaxy A56 and the S24 FE are strong contenders with similar designs, screens, software, battery life, and wired charging speeds. If you prioritize a powerful chipset and a dedicated telephoto zoom, the S24 FE is the better choice. Otherwise, if you want to save some money and still get a great phone with good cameras and battery life, the A56 is a solid option.
